Muslim organizations and accountability

Dalai Lama once said, "A lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity." Unfortunately, another local Muslim organization executives being placed under the microscope by other board members and members of the congregation who were demanding transparency on financial matters – demanding accountability – resulted in their removal from the mosque – escorted out of the building by the Vancouver Police Department – on behest of the association’s executives and office manager during the month of Ramadan. This included some of the brothers who were in Itekaaf during the last ten days of Ramadan.

This is yet, once again one of those scenarios where we simply end up holding our heads and say – seriously!

The leaders of the Muslim organizations need to seriously ponder and reflect on the wisdom of one of the youngest Muslim stateswoman, the president of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, who once said, “Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions. When there is no sharing of power, no rule of law, no accountability, there is abuse, corruption, subjugation and indignation.”

It is about time the Muslim community collectively, both the community leaders, as well as average layperson, rise to the minimum expected conduct to live, work, and operate in a civil society.

It all starts with us – individually!

Kudos to the brothers, the ten ousted elected board members whom had given their time and energy to serve the community to demand from the executive board members transparency and accountability on financial matters.

It is time for everyone to take it upon themselves demanding our leaders to be more transparent and more accountable about the financial matters. If the leaders of any such organizations that fails to live up to minimum expected standard in providing transparency and accountability of public finances. Than may be it is time for the public to stop supporting such organizations and redirect their hard earned charitable dollars towards the organizations that are transparent in their financial management and other affairs, and are willing to meet the minimum expected standard.

If a Bedouin can stop the legendary Ameer al Momineen, Syedna Omer Farooq (RA) on his way to a Mimber on Eid day, grabbing his beard, demanding accountability about his new clothing, on Eid day. Why can’t we hold our current leaders to the same standard.

When Syedna Omer (RA) was questioned. His supporters tried to silence the Bedouin.

Syedna Omer (RA) stopped them and provided explanation and justification to the Bedouin, answering his question, citing it as his right to make such demand.

Therefore, the standard bar on accountability and transparency of Muslim leaders has already been set very high by none other than Syedna Omer (RA) as to what is expected of a Muslim leader charged with managing funds collected from the public.

Henceforth, Syedna Omer once said, My Khilafat (Rule) would not have been such glorious one, if it wasn’t for my followers who took me to task on all my affairs and dealing.

The golden era of Islam, posits on transparency and accountability. The public’s right to information, no matter how cruel it may seem towards noble leadership, and leader’s obligation to provide explanation and justification to members of public when demanded.

We need to come out of this passive mode, and become activists. As the saying goes, “Not all that glitter is gold.”

Unfortunately, over time, we have developed a sense of passiveness towards those who manage our affairs under the pretext of Islam. Giving each such individual a passing grade of “Hollier than thou” whose judgement and motives cannot be doubted or questioned.

Consequently, we’ve begun to treat each opposing voice or critique as some trouble maker – a crazy, lunatic, bent on stalling the progress.

This sense of passiveness may be partly due to evade our own shortcoming on not being able to do for our community, where we could. Thus, as a sense of self comfort we end up shielding those whom we should be questioning.

Just imagine what would be the golden era of Islam be like without the Bedouin who demanded accountability on the spot from Syedna Omer (RA)? Better question to ask would there have been one, if dissenting voices were silenced or shrugged off?

On the other hand, leaders, if they are in fact, “Hollier than thou” in their affairs, like Syedna Omer (RA) was. They would have no issues responding to queries, regardless how rude or cruel the member of the public may have acted, when demanding such explanations.

We have seen the video on YouTube what had transpired at the Ajyal Islamic centre, that is center of this latest controversy. The ten elected board members whom have been ousted from the center during the month of Ramadan have also issued a four-page statement providing the history that led to the controversy.

The statement outlines their concerns, and a quick scan suggests that these elected brothers had given plenty of time to the board executives, since December 2016, to become transparent. After eighteen long months, awaiting patiently, they became more assertive in their demands. It resulted in four board members, ousting the rest, and when they demanded justification considering the association’s constitution, and rules, Societies Act, the Police was called, and they were removed from the property, and barred from entering with a warning that if they were to come back, they would be charged with trespassing.

Once again, we do not have all the information. Regardless of where the truth may lie. Such controversies not only reflect bad on our community in general. However, the biggest damage would be felt years later as it discourages our youth from stepping up to the plate and take leadership role. Especially, the youth, born and bred in Canada who are completely oblivious about the excess cultural baggage which often is at the root of such controversies.